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Senate's Murray: Budget 'Not Going To Be An Easy Exercise'

The leader of the Massachusetts Senate is expecting negotiations with the governor over the next state budget to go relatively smoothly.

Senate President Therese Murray says deep spending cuts proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick are unavoidable.

"We're gonna have to make the same type of cuts that the governor did," Murray said. "This is not going to be an easy exercise. I'm hoping we might be able to find some additional revenues. If not, we're gonna be making the same painful type of cuts."

Still, Murray says lawmakers will make notable changes in the spending plan.

For one, she opposes the governor's plans to eliminate treatment centers for people with mental illnesses.

"I'm very concerned with the mental health bed cuts and no outline of where those people are going," she said. "You can't put 167 people on the street who are mentally ill."

This program aired on January 27, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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